The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-06-05
LATEST NEWS FROM EUROPE.

LATEST NEWS FROM EUROPE.
SOME VICTIMS OF TIE PARIS FIRE
LOCKED IN THEIR Boxes
A Darserous Practice In Theatres-slander-
ing the wifo or Premier Rouvier-Jem
smith Not Auxieus to Tackle Sullivan
A Proud Day for the Grand Old Man
Davitt Makes . Remarkable Speech
Scandal In President Grevy's Family-A
Gorgeous ntory About an American
Money Kinr-Tho Peerless Thistle.
cspyrtgM 1887, BY TIE sur PStntsao ana Pso,ishtnS
Assccdhon
LONDON, June A French gentleman re-
siding In London, N. Francis youillon. upon
bearing Of the Opera Comique disaster. said to
me he believed the fire might provo In one re-
spect to be most fortunate thing for Paris.
It would give the crowd something to think
about and to get excited over and by distract
M attention from the political crisis prevent
serious trouble. spont the early part OF the
week In Paris and found tho prediction veri-
aed. Paris was thinking and talking OF tho
IRE. and Of not much else Rouvier had con-
structed government. and although Gen.
ssussier, who had been selected to replace
Boulanger. had withdrawn, and It was not
known who would replace the popular Gen.
eral, the Parisian mob was calm. On Tuesday
the newspapers announced that Ferron had
been nut at tho head Of the army. and all the
Boulanger patriots. headed by Rochefort.
thundered in the biggest and plainest print
that Ia Patrie was betrayed. The Paris mob
only howled little around the opera house
where the big military ball was being held.
and next day went right back to Its big griev-
ance. the burning Of more than 100 Frenchmen.
Obliging hotel keepers informed all strangers
OF the nearest route to the ruins Of tie Opera
Comiaue. Professional guides teemed with
deep-laid plans for taking customers In to gee
the exposition Of bodies recovered. and volun-
teered many enticing details as to the wonder
full and unusual positions which the unhappy
victims would DO found to have assumed while
thsy were burning The praises OF the Paris
fremen arc being sung most enthusiastically.
I but fof no special resson'that could discover.
A young man who used to report fires for
THB Bun Witnessed the burning Of the thea
tire. He still wore upon his suspender The
SuN badge which took him through the police
lines In New York. and was eratiled by the same
open sesame result when he tried it on the
Gordon Of French gendarmes. From him
obtained q reliable report Of what happened.
Almost forty, minutes passed before the first
stream Of water touched the building. and for
. Wullo tu6 uOSo uuoo WcEO uuAStAAkS IL ONoAJ
direction. The Hremen seemed to have .
wholesome respect for the fire, and operated
nearly always from q distance that was per-
fectly safe. There was no climbing up ladders
through smoke. breaking in OF windows to let
the damo out and water IN. no tnInblinG
through skylights, or any Of the incidents
which make a big New York fire as exciting as
a bull fight, and twice as dangerous to the
fire fighters. Once q fireman playing on the
fire from . commanding point was lighted mp
and made romantic by the flames. the French
crowd cheered hoarsely and the French fire.
man promptly interrupted his work to take OH
his hat and bow. all Of which. as the young
6uN reporter remarked, was Eeore character
1stic than business like.
The most excellent result Of the disaster is
the feeling Of rage with which the popular
bosom 10 now filed against the oupreuse. The
ouprevse Is the tyrant Of the Partisan theatre.
She has hard and unrelenting features. which
she seeks unsuccessfully to soften down with
jAunty cap. Her source OF revenue and her
instrument of torture is the petit banc. which Is
her idea Of footstool. 1t Is just big enough
to fall over. but too small to use. During the
earlier acts one Is busy trying to kick 1t some
where. and the last act is spoiled by the neces-
sity Of going through ones pockets in search
of sous In response to the stern request OF the
ottpreuse not TO forget the little bench. One Of
r. the oGure,Sses was burned in the Opera
Comique, but even that has not pacifled thea
tregoers. for It is known that the ourre,ise, 80
called because she Is supposed to open theatre
boxes. does not hesitate to lock box occa-
sionally to prevent the exit Of inmates whose
little bench account remains unsettled. A
number Of those burned were found in the
boxes. and It is believed that they had been left
locked In by the oucre,ses, who fed as soon as
the alarm was given.
That the new French Government has been
expecting lot Of trouble has been very evil
dent. and they are no doubt grateful to the
Opera Comique disaster for its timely arrival
On Tuesday night. when the military ball
was held. Paris was virtually In state Of
siege. Thousands Of policemen and regiments
Of troops were out. and the Grand Opera House
was surrounded and guarded as though an at
tnck on 1t was momentarily expected. Only
those bearing tickets to the ball were allowed
inside the lines. and the trade Of the big cafes
near the Opera House was 80 completely
ruined that they turned their tables upside
down and abandoned business. AS soon as
the lines were formed. Americans and other
travellers living inside the lines were
not taken at their word but on
being passed through double rows Of
policemen were conducted to the doors Of
their hotels, and never lost sight OF. The
bridges across the Seine leading to the German
Embassy. the Chamber Of Deputies. and the
Ministry Of War were guarded by soldiers and
policemen, and are still specially guarded. For
several days not even the most innocent Of
carriages was allowed to pass until the driver
had announced his number and his destina-
ton. At this moment special squads Of police
men are stationed at the points where an out
break OF popular indignation is most to be
dreaded. They hang about under the door
ways or In the courts OF public buildings. avoid
ing observation. for the Partisan does not enjoy
being watched 30 closely. and the Government
are aware OF 1t.
Even Mr.. Grevy the good, old-fashioned Pres
ident. is worried. The friends Of Boulanger
hold him responsible for the Generals retire.
ment. and the Elysee In which he lives ia con-
stantly and specially guarded by a regiment Of
the line. While the Government have been
thus protecting themselves against acts all
that words can do has been done to make them